The legacy of colonial legislation on the contemporary rights of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) in Commonwealth countries requires further examination and a strengthened advocacy response.  Recent years have witnessed increased advocacy by civil society in Commonwealth states and vis-à-vis Commonwealth institutions on this issue. There is very little systematic cooperation across research and civil society actors to share information and identify possible solutions for redressing current rights violations and the ongoing hostility towards LGBT rights defenders and members of the LGBT community.

This meeting will bring together academics and practitioners to examine the legal, political and civil society issues that influence LGBT rights and especially decriminalisation of homosexuality in the Commonwealth.  The outputs will contribute to strengthening advocacy strategies for the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

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